Florida in April. Help me with an itinerary and top tips please?

[Doozerbag]

In a total YOLO moment, I have booked flights to get me, DH, DDs (11 and 5) and DS (8) to Florida (Miami - super cheap indirect flights) for 15 nights, arriving just before Easter. It was to celebrate getting over a few tough things healthwise so we haven't planned it in advance at all and weren't even sure we could go until recently.

We have accommodation provisionally booked near Miami 2 nights, then Key Largo 3 nights, then Orlando 8 nights then Naples, last 3 nights. We rarely go abroad on holiday and are not really mad about rides and parks but happy to be and (DH and I) usually enjoy more outdoors, exploring, architecture, history, culture stuff but I think we need a mix or kids and adults bits. We want to "do" Disney for DD 5 particularly but thinking there will enough there for all of us for 5 or 6 days in Orlando? Happy to pass on Universal because we visited Happy Potter Tour in the UK just recently and have quite a lot of TV/film studio exposure for the kids from our jobs.

Now I feel a bit overwhelmed at working out what to do with our time when we are there and don't want to miss any hidden gems or top tips.
Can anyone help with some ideas for Don't Miss or Don't Bother things to do, or stuff we need to know to get the most out of the trip?
Thanks so much in advance. x

Happy Potter !! - it definitely was for us - had a lovely time!

There’s plenty to do in Orlando. Each park takes at least a day. Do not miss the illuminations at magic kingdom. It’s late but well worth it.

I think disney do a 5 day hopper. My tips would be:

• Stay on site and use magic hours

-Book fast passes ASAP for the rides you really want to do -Blizzard beach is better than typhoon lagoon if you only want one water park

• don't miss out on Epcot - people often think it's not worth it but it's great, especially the world showcase and soarin
• Hollywood studios is probably only half a days worth of stuff - although star tours and fantasmic are great
• fireworks in both Epcot and magic kingdom are incredible

Please don’t go to sea world.

Oooh thank you! Keep em coming!

MNHQ/pedants corner - I think my thread title should be "Florida in April". I wish we were actually in Florida for 4 weeks!

• *[Message from MNHQ: We've edited the title for you now. Have a lovely holiday]

No, definitely not going to Sea World

Universal Studios and Disney are both incredible, you are going to have so much fun!
We don't like roller coaster rides so much, but many of the rides are 4D, in that they feel real iykwim, yet you are moving a little.
It's very expensive nowadays to eat in the parks and the food is abit Samey, but the experiences more than make up for it!
Rides you must ride.
Transformers
Simpsons
Harry Potter (all)
Men in Black
Twister
Those rides are Universal, and at Disney, it's less rides but more the whole 'experience'.
Have a wonderful time! Your children are the perfect age to enjoy it!

Hi I was in Orlando this time last year your going to love it all the Disney parks are amazing animal kingdom has a fantastic safari, universal is a must it's excellent best holiday I've ever been on join up to a website called the dibb people who go regularly give fantastic advice your going to have a great time

I’d do a day at Winter Park about 45 mins drive from Orlando and it has the Tiffany museum which is small and beautiful. Good shops, restaurants and parks to wander around in. Very easy to walk there afterwards and easy to park.

Reconsider doing Universal - there's lots more than just Potter, but the Potter bits are superb. DP and me spend hours mooching around, especially early evening.

Doozerbag

You state your flights to Miami are indirect; how much time do you have between the initial arrival and then your flight down to Miami?. Wear comfortable shoes as well, you could end up walking the best part of a mile here to get to arrivals.

As you are heading in the direction of Orlando I would skip Key Largo and head for somewhere like Fort Lauderdale instead.

The Twister attraction at Universal Studios has since been replaced by the Jimmy Fallon based show Race Through New York which is a very good simulator ride. Both the Simpsons simulator ride and Minions ride there are also very good.

Go anti-clockwise around the parks and decide which rides/shows you want to do in advance. Arrive early, to avoid the crowds, have a break/swim/late lunch and then go back to the parks for the parades and fireworks. Book any onsite meals in advance (online) to save queuing.

This is brilliant stuff, thank you. Any tips for generally being in the States? I am particularly wondering about car seats, any bits I need to take, mosquitoes and washing in hotels (omg, actually have become my mother)

If you are on Facebook, try the ‘Disney and Orlando for Brits’ page.

The administrators on the page are very experienced and thousands of people can give you excellent advice and links to make your trip easy, planned and enjoyable.

Never been to Disney or Florida but I am a member of the page and read their posts regularly so I know what I looking for at a later day.

It really is a good fb page.

Ok thanks will give both those sites a look x

👍🏼 Have a great time.

Key Largo is great and an easy drive from Miami. If you like snorkelling, go to the Pennekamp marine reserve - they take you out to a beautiful reef. There are also wonderful kayaking routes through the mangroves. If you don’t mind a long (but easy) drive, a day trip to Key West is worth it. The road down there is amazing - a series of bridges and pretty keys and Key West itself very interesting. I really liked seeing Hemingway’s house. Bahia Honda beach is a good stop off for a swim on the way back between Keys West and Largo - very beautiful and undeveloped.

Noticed you asked about insects: I hardly got bitten in either the Keys or Orlando in April and I am a mosquito magnet!

The Disney parks are amazing - but please do not kid yourself that their animal welfare is any better than that of Seaworld.

Disney have dolphins and other mammals of the sea in tanks too. Epcot in particular - is depressing to see them.

We have just got back from Dinsey and we a great time. We did 5 parks in 5 days (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach). I think all your children are going to love it!! My top tip would be to get on the app and work out what the queues are normally like so you can book the best times as the queues for rides can be ridiculous and book your fast passes (it makes such a difference). The food is expensive so if you are on a budget take packed lunches. Blizzard Beach is fantastic for the kids, free parking, and no queues. My favourite ride Soarin' in epcot (i dont do roller coasters).

Committing all this to memory, thank you x car seats anyone?

Car seat wise: legally under 6's must be in a car seat in Florida, check the Florida DMV website for information. You can hire them through the car rental places or take yours with you and check it in with your suitcases.

Beyond the page - there aren't any animals in tanks in Epcot!

Harry Potter in Florida wipes the floor with anything in the UK. You HAVE to do it.